Over 1,000 hard-up police officers moonlight

MORE than 1,000 police officers in the North-west are moonlighting for extra cash, official figures reveal.

PUBLISHED: 00:01, Mon, Dec 29, 2014

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Police are taking up secondary jobs to make ends meet

Bobbies from the Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire forces are taking second jobs in professions including teaching, beauty therapy and helicopter pilot and dog training.

A Freedom of Information request also revealed officers are working as photographers, bar staff, driving instructors and a football referee. Police rules require staff to declare any “outside business interests”.

Some 1,033 officers, from constables to superintendents, have registered. Peter Singleton, Merseyside Police Federation chairman, said a pay rise of just one per cent for 2014-15 may be prompting more to seek extra work.

He said some performance-related pay had been scaled back too, amid controversial cuts to force budgets.

Mr Singleton added: “I’m sure a majority of police officers are feeling the pinch. In real terms, over the last four or five years, police officers are easily 12 per cent poorer.”